David Crosby
Gram Parsons
This highly influential artist Gram Parsons was born Cecil Ingram Connor III in November 1946. Born into a wealthy family, his early life was spent split between Florida and Georgia. Early tragedy punctuated his life when first his farther committed suicide then his mother died following years of excessive drinking. He had by now taken the name of his stepfather and was to find solace in music.
From the age of 16 he played in local bands, mostly playing rock and roll covers but soon discovered folk music and formed his first professional band in 1963. He spent a brief, if unspectacular term at Harvard University before dropping out after meeting guitarist John Nuese who persuaded Parson’s to give up on the folk music he had been playing and to join him to play in a more country based style. Recruiting Ian Dunlop on bass and Mickey Gauvin on drums, they formed the International Submarine Band. In early 1966 the band relocated to New York and recorded a couple of singles and most of a subsequently scrapped album.
When success eluded them in New York, Parsons moved out to Los Angeles. Able to live from a substantial trust fund, Parsons soon became part of the film community, befriending Peter Fonda and starting a relationship with actress Nancy Ross. Following recommendations from Ross, the rest of the band joined Parsons in LA and soon blagged themselves a part in the psychedelic exploitation film “The Trip” Despite recording some songs for the film, music from The Electric Flag was preferred although Parsons and the band can be seen in the film, Parsons was by now convinced that the path to success lay in country music and particularly in the new Country Rock sound that was fighting to be established. Dunlop and Gauvin disagreed and left. Good fortune was just around the corner however, and duo were picked up and signed just days later to Lee Hazlewood’s label, LHI records.
With just Parsons and Nuese left from the original band, session musicians were drafted in to record the bands only album. "Safe At Home". Containing a number of Parsons original compositions, the album was due for release in early 1968 but was put on hold as just prior to this, Parsons had auditioned to replace David Crosby in the Byrds and was finally put out much later that year. Having passed the audition, he was soon to join the new band recording the album “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” also released in 1968.
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Unfortunately, Parsons was still signed to LHI and his new band mates to Columbia. This result of this was that Parsons was hired, along with Kevin Kelley, as sidemen and not full band members. Despite this, to the outside world, Parsons was a full member and was given equal billing and contributed some fine songs to the album, including the classic “Hickory Wind” Due to the contractual complications, many of Parsons vocals had to be replaced (by Roger McGuinn) and his only lead vocals appear on just three tracks. Recorded partly in the country music stronghold of Nashville, this album truly paved the way for Country Rock to take off. With this album, the Byrds left behind the frivolous world of psychedelic pop to bring country music to the masses.
Ever restless, Parsons was to quit the Byrds during a tour of England late in 1968 (a busy year!) allegedly due to the bands planned concert in the political hot potato of South Africa. Parsons spent some time in England and became friendly with The Rolling Stones, particularly Keith Richards who had his interest in country music re ignited by the American.
Following his return to the States, Parsons prised Chris Hillman away from the Byrds and the pair formed the “Flying Burrito Brothers” with Chris Ethridge and Pete Kleinow. They were soon in the studio to record their debut album, the exotically titled “The Gilded Palace Of Sin” Now acknowledged as a classic of the genre, the album mixed traditional sounds of folk, country and gospel with contemporary electric guitars. Once again, commercial success eluded them while some critics were confused and some found the conflicting styles confusing. With Michael Clarke joining on drums, the band toured across the States. Now indulging in copious amounts of drugs, Parsons live performances were inconsistent at best, a lifestyle also followed by Ethridge, who, no longer sharing the bands vision, left.
When the Stones relocated to the States in 1969, the situation worsened. Writing new songs and rehearsing with the band took second place to partying with the Stones and the bands reputation dwindled. A short set opening at the infamous Altamont Festival did little to raise the bands profile. With their record label trying to salvage something and to try to recoup some of their investment, they were ordered into the studio to record anything that might encourage commercial returns. After some sessions, with hastily written songs and using some of the out takes from “The Gilded Palace..” "Burrito Deluxe" was completed and released in April 1970. Although under par, the album was notable for the inclusion of the Jagger/Richards classic “Wild Horses” the first ever recording of the song. After again lacking any commercial success and this time also receiving some harsh criticism from the press, Parsons walked out. The band would continue for a while longer, recording two subsequent albums.
Signing immediately as a solo artist with A&M, he started work on an album with famed producer Terry Melcher. By now in the grip of the unholy trinity of cocaine, heroin and drink, Parsons was uninspired and the sessions returned little in the way of new music. Putting the album on hold, he returned to the comforting fold of the Keith Richards and the Stones where he was still considered a major talent. Following the Stones to Europe where they were working on their “Exile In Main Street” classic, he may have contributed some vocals on some tracks but, understandably, things are a bit cloudy around these sessions. Eventually, Parsons was considered a distracting influence and left the Stones compound at the insistence of Anita Pallenberg.
Now married to actress Gretchen Burrell, Parsons disposition changed. Now off heroin and revitalized, he started back again on his solo record. With the help of recently befriended Emmylou Harris, “GP” was released in 1973. In support of the album, a States wide tour commenced. While a bit ragged at first, the band, including Harris, were soon playing to enthusiastic audiences with high profile fans such as Neil Young and Linda Ronstadt leading the applause. The album however followed the same pattern as previous releases and failed to chart.
In the summer of 1973 work commenced on what was to be his final album. Now kept away from most chemical distractions, he was making a serious attempt to put his career and life back on track. Again using most of the musicians on “GP” the paucity of new, original material however, resulted in a messy collection of reworked oldies, cover songs and hastily written originals. Finally completed in September, Parsons retreated to California for some rest and recreation. Staying at the Joshua Tree Inn at the site of the national monument there, Parsons often visited and stayed in the area and described it as his favourite place.
Less than two days after arriving, he died from an overdose of alcohol and morphine aged just 26. When that final album was released in January 1974, it was much changed from the album envisaged by Parsons. His widow, Gretchen, who Parsons was due to divorce, changed the running order of the songs, removed the original title track “Sleepless Nights” completely, changed the cover photo and relegated the role Emmylou Harris had to next to nothing. Now called “Grievous Angel” the album has grown and grown in its influence and many critics believe that it achieved Parsons vision of “Cosmic American Music”
Parsons death has gone into rock folklore. Drunkenly telling his loyal manager Phil Kaufman that he wanted to be cremated and have his ashes scattered across the desert he loved, Kaufman did his bidding. “kidnapping” his body from Los Angeles airport where it was going to be taken to Louisiana for a private ceremony, Kaufman instead drove the coffin into the desert and set fire to it and although his ashes were never scattered, they at least were in the desert.
Parsons life and early death tell a tragic tale. Never successful with any of the bands he played with, he would too often jump ship in a desperate attempt for fame and acclaim. Never needing to struggle for his art like so many of his contemporaries, he could drift from one project to the next. An addictive personality, no doubt inherited from his mother, his struggle with the lack of fame must have been hard to take. As his reputation grew posthumously, coupled with the mystique of his death, so his influence grew. Regularly credited with starting the country rock genre and cited as a major influence for such bands as the Eagles, Poco and the Doobie Brothers, his importance is assured. His recordings have continued to be released to his ever faithful fans with many compliations and collections adding to his brief portfolio.
Has the reputation and critical influence been exaggerated with a tragically early death and such high profile “friends” making him the american Nick Drake. I wonder.
Roger Gibbens
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you.Content@rokpool.com
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THE HOLLIES
The Hollies are a British rock group, formed in the early sixties, had the hits 'He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother' and 'Searchin’'. Formed in the early 1960s, the band have gone through line up changes but remain one of few bands from the ‘British Invasion’ era, alongside the likes of The Beatles, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, Rolling Stones and Steeleye Span, who still record and tour today.
The Hollies were the third most successful British 'singles' group of the 1960s, scoring twenty UK Top 40 singles between 1963 and 1969, following The Shadows and The Beatles. However, despite their numerous chart placings, the band only reached number one once in the UK , with 1965 single 'I’m Alive'.
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Following guitarist Graham Nash’s departure in 1968, when he went on to form the original ‘supergroup’ Crosby, Stills and Nash with Stephen Stills and ex Byrds singer David Crosby, Terry Sylvester joined The Hollies and saw continued success, with Sylvester proving a more than an adequate replacement.
The band have continued to tour steadily since, continuing to capitalise on their 1960s heyday, even though singles throughout the 70s and 80s failed to chart. In 2009 the band were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Members include Bernie Calvert (born on September 16, 1942, in Lancashire, England), drums; Allan Clarke (born on April 5, 1942, in Lancashire, England; left group temporarily, 1972), lead vocals; Bobby Eliott (born on December 8, 1942, in Lancashire, England), bass guitar; Eric Haydock, drums; Tony Hicks (born on December 16, 1945, in Lancashire, England), lead guitar; Graham Nash (born on February 2, 1942, in Blackpool, England; left group, 1968), songwriting, guitar; Don Rathbone, bass guitar; Terry Sylvester (born on January 8, 1947, in Liverpool, England), vocals, guitar.
Albums:
Source: Susan Salter
(SM)
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The Kinks
Rolling Stones
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THE BYRDS
The Byrds were an American rock and roll band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The Byrds underwent a number of line-up changes, with lead singer, Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group's disbandment in 1973.
McGuinn had been playing Beatles songs acoustically in Los Angeles folk clubs when Gene Clark (who later became The Byrds’ guitarist) approached him to form a duo. Soon after, David Crosby (who also became a Byrds’ guitarist) joined them to form a group named The Jet Set. The Jet Set soon expanded their ranks to include drummer Michael Clarke and mandolin-player-turned-bassist Chris Hillman. The band released a single on Elektra Records in October 1964 entitled "Please Let Me Love You". It was after an audition for Columbia records that the band was renamed, from ‘The Beefeaters’ to ‘The Byrds.’
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The Byrds went through a journey of musical genres, adopting a somewhat psychedelic influence after their first successful year of producing the standard folk rock sound, which gave them hits such as “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” The psychedelic age saw the groundbreaking lead guitar work of McGuinn replicate the free style poetic jazz melodies of the great saxophonist, John Coltrane. Tracks such as ‘Why?’ also showed Indian Raga influence, which helped expand The Byrds’ fused genre repertoire. After the band played at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the genre of country rock was adopted till the end of the bands’ fame. The band had undergone some personnel changes with Gene Clarke and David Crosby being replaced by session musicians.
The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 where the original lineup of Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Roger McGuinn was honored at this induction. Gene Clark died later that year, and two years later Michael Clarke succumbed to liver disease caused by alcoholism. More recently, in 2004 Rolling Stone Magazine ranked them #45 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Though both Hillman and Crosby have expressed an interest in working with McGuinn again on future Byrds projects, no such reunion has occurred and all three have successful individual careers.
Original members included Gene Clark (born November 17, 1941, in Tipton, MO; died May 24, 1991, in Los Angeles, CA; left group, 1966), vocals; Michael Clarke (born June 3, 1944, in New York, NY; left group, 1968), drums; David Crosby (born August 14, 1941, in Los Angeles; left group, 1967), guitar; Chris Hillman (born December 4, 1942, in Los Angeles; left group, 1968), bass; and Roger McGuinn (born Jim McGuinn, July 13, 1942, in Chicago, IL, [changed name, 19681), guitar.
Later members included Skip Battin (born February 2, 1934, in Gallipolis, OH; joined group, 1969), bass; John Guerin (joined group, 1972), drums; Kevin Kelly (born in 1945 in California; joined group, 1968), drums; Gene Parsons (born in 1944 in Los Angeles), drums; Gram Parsons (born Cecil Connor, November 5, 1946, in Winter Haven, FL [changed name, c. I960); died September 19, 1973, in Joshua Tree, CA; joined and left group, 1968), guitar; Clarence White (born June 6, 1944, in Lewiston, ME; died July 14, 1973), guitar; and John York (left group, 1969) bass.
Group formed in 1964 in Los Angeles; originally named the Jet Set; signed with Elektra Records, released first single as the Beefeaters; signed with Columbia Records, released "Mr. Tambourine Man," 1965; released three LPs; released several LPs with various lineups, 1967-73; group disbanded, 1973; original members reunited to make one album, The Byrds, Asylum, 1973.
Albums:
Mr. Tambourine Man, Columbia, 1965.
Turn! Turn! Turn!, Columbia, 1966.
Fifth Dimension (includes "Eight Miles High"), Columbia, 1966.
Younger Than Yesterday (includes "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "My Back Pages)," Columbia, 1967.
The Byrds Greatest Hits, Columbia, 1967.
The Notorious Byrd Brothers, Columbia, 1968.
Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Columbia, 1968.
Dr. Byrds and Mrs. Hyde, Columbia, 1969.
Preflyte, Together, 1969.
(Untitled), Columbia, 1970.
Farther Along, Columbia, 1971.
Byrdmaniax, Columbia, 1971.
The Best of the Byrds: Greatest Hits Volume II, Columbia, 1972.
The Byrds, Asylum, 1973.
Never Before, Murray Hill, 1988.
Sources: Mathew Jones; Tim Connor
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
